Whether they’re in our smartphones, laptops, electric cars, or any number of other rechargeable electronic devices, the overwhelming majority of us rely on lithium-ion batteries in our everyday lives. Unfortunately, as companies like Samsung and HP are all too aware, there can be dangerous side-effects to lithium-ion batteries if there are any manufacturing anomalies or damage done to the batteries that affects their structural integrity. There is a highly-flammable liquid electrolyte and porous material layer between the anode and cathode layers in today’s lithium-ion batteries. And if that liquid is exposed or otherwise compromised, whether through defects or physical damage, the batteries could literally burst into flames and explode.

One of the holy grails of battery development is the creation of a cost-effective, efficient, non-volatile electrolyte material, without the explosive risks associated with current technologies. And researchers at Tufts University may have solved the riddle.

New Battery Technology Could Use A Solid Plastic Electrolyte Layer.

Mike Zimmerman, a Material Science Professor and former plastics engineer, and his team have created a solid, plastic electrolyte material that is durable, lightweight and already being manufactured in Zimmerman’s own small facility. In addition to teaching, he runs a side company called Ionic Materials, which has just shown off its solid electrolyte material to the press for the first time. An upcoming NOVA special called “Search for the Superbattery” is set to premieres this Wednesday night at 9 p.m. on PBS, during which Zimmerman demos one the batteries.

The demo is quite impressive. The battery is barely thicker than a couple of playing cards and is connected to an array of LEDs that require roughly the same voltage as today’s smartphones. The battery is then shredded with a pair of scissors until is reduced to a fraction of its original size and the LEDs remain lit the entire time. There are no explosions, sparks, or any ill effects.

Even At A Fraction Of Its Original Size, The Battery Still Safely Functioned.

Along with their safer characteristics, the batteries could also offer up double the capacity of current technologies.

The batteries are not quite ready to hit the marker, however. Zimmerman says that development is never really done, and there is still a lot of reliability testing to do. Scaling up the manufacturing techniques necessary to mass produce the batteries could also post problems. The team is confident they’ll be able to leap the remaining hurdles, however.

I am the longtime Managing Editor at HotHardware.com. I am also a freelance writer whose work has been published worldwide, in a number of PC and tech-related print publications. I have been a computing and technology buff since my early childhood. Even before being expos...